It is time to step up for our Harbor! Saugatuck and Douglas have proposed hiring legal services to prepare for an intergovernmental agency to create the Kalamazoo Harbor Commission and establish its operational requirements and limits.
The Kalamazoo River and Kalamazoo Lake have been the sparkling glory of Saugatuck, Douglas and Saugatuck Township since the land was originally settled.
Currently the Army Corp of Engineers dredges the harbor up to Coral Gables to make the River navigitable. This Commission would study the dredging of the Kalamazoo River and Kalamazoo Lake up to the Douglas Marina and possibly silt collection as far up river as the I96th bridge.
Just imagine what it would be like to have the river back to the way it was when commercial ships docked here and sea captains built some of our historic homes.
Values of property, especially, but not only, on the river front is dependent upon the use of the river and the view derived from it. Many residents of Saugatuck Township have boats moored in the harbor and live in the township so they can have more space around them and to be near their boats.
If the river become un-navigable, property values will be affected. Many of the homes in the area are second homes and buyers who require water will choose South Haven or Holland and Lake Macatawa if our waters do not remain open.
Saugatuck and Douglas have requested that Saugatuck Township participate in the legal cost associated in creating the Kalamazoo Harbor Commission.
Voting township residents should contact Jane Wright by snail mail at Saugtuck Township office at 3461 Blue Star Highway, Saugatuck, Mi 49453 or by e-mail at jwright@saugatucktownship.org or, better yet, attend the Township Board Meeting on April 2, 2008 at the township offices at Blue Star and Clearbrook at 7PM. 
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